The Best Vitamins and Supplements for Optimal Health

Choosing vitamins and supplements can be incredibly confusing. I could write for days about how to find just the right ones for a particular need or issue, but instead I want to offer a few things you need to know about choosing your own supplements and then share a list of my favorites.

First, did you know that for a vitamin to be labeled “natural” only ten percent actually has to be natural? The other 90% can be synthetic!

Synthetic nutrients manufactured in a lab are different from the ones found in nature and are often used simply because they’re cheaper. In their naturally-occurring state, vitamins always appear in a synergistic complex, balanced with other nutritional cofactors and in the right biological concentrations. Our bodies can only utilize vitamins as they naturally occur in food, regardless of whether they’re water soluble or fat soluble. So while synthetic vitamins are cheaper, they usually don’t have identical effects on our bodies and can sometimes actually cause harm.

Here are some examples:Vitamin C never occurs in an isolated form in nature – it’s always accompanied by natural complex nutrients which are essential for vitamin C’s bioactivity. The synthetic form, ascorbate, is an isolated form which the body can’t properly utilize alone.

Vitamin B6 provides fabulous support for the adrenal glands and helps maintain a healthy nervous system. But the synthetic form of B6 – pyridoxine – has been shown to cause liver damage when used in long term “therapeutic” dosages (over 200 mg/day).

Chromium, in its natural form, is a mineral that can help control blood sugar levels. But most chromium you’ll find on the market is a synthetic version called “chromium picolinate” which doesn’t work the same way in the body because it’s not in a natural form.

Even worse, when you buy a supplement from a company without knowing exactly where the nutrients come from, you run the risk of completely wasting your money.

TheNew York Times reported in 2015 that the “New York State attorney general’s office accused four major retailers on Monday of selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements and demanded that they remove the products from their shelves. The authorities said they had conducted tests on top-selling store brands of herbal supplements at four national retailers — GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart — and found that four out of five of the products did not contain any of the herbs on their labels. The tests showed that pills labeled medicinal herbs often contained little more than cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus and houseplants, and in some cases substances that could be dangerous to those with allergies.”

This is also why it’s not a great idea to purchase supplements from places like Amazon – it’s hard to know exactly what you’ll get.

Standard Process is one of our favorite brands we use for our clients at Biodynamic Wellness, but you can only purchase them from a practitioner’s office. Standard Process has found people selling their products on Amazon, but those those companies selling on Amazon are doing so against Standard Process’ policy and some were found to be selling bottles that didn’t actually contain the items on the label. I highly recommend purchasing all supplements from a nutritional practitioner, or from another trusted source online.

Another danger associated with taking supplements: many nutrients work synergistically together and most supplements aren’t formulated to keep nutrients in balance in the body.

For example, calcium and magnesium work together. If you take a lot of calcium, it will throw off the balance of magnesium in the body and vice-versa. The same goes for copper and iron, vitamin D and K2, and I could go on and on. I recommend you talk to your nutritionist before consuming specific supplements because they have training on balancing nutrients to work best in our bodies.

As promised, here’s an easy list of some of the best vitamins and supplements:

Multi Vitamin: Catalyn from Standard Process is a great one and can also be used for children. It contains vitamins A, C, D, thiamine, riboflavin, B6 along with their co-factors and other whole foods-derived nutrients to support the body. You can purchase this at our office. I also highly recommend Biosuperfood F1.

Calcium: Calcium Lactate from Standard Process is the best because it contains the proper 5:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium.

Cod Liver Oil: A high-quality cod liver oil contains vitamins A and D as well as EPA and DHA. This is a great supplement to add in the winter time when we aren’t getting as much sunshine. My two favorite brands are Green Pasture and Standard Process.

Iron: I prefer Vital Proteins Liver capsules, because liver contains not only iron, but also folate and vitamin B12 – these three nutrients work together. Also, remember that grass-fed beef is rich in iron and easy to add to your diet.

Magnesium: One of the cheapest ways to get extra magnesium into our systems is with an Epsom salt bath. Put 1 cup of Epsom salt in a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes. The magnesium will soak into the body via the skin. If you’re looking for extra magnesium in pill form, I recommend Dr. Ron’s Mag Max.

Probiotics: It’s a good idea to rotate between different probiotics each month to get a variety of probiotic strains for immune system support. My favorites: Ther-Biotic Complete, BioKult, Gut Pro, and ChampPro.

Thyroid Support: If you’re struggling with thyroid disease, it’s best to get a personalized supplement protocol, but a general supplement I really like and personally use is Thyroid Complex from Standard Process. It contains the synergistic herbs bladderwrack, ashwagandha and bacopa and well as iodine.

One last thing – it’s important to understand that many medications can cause specific nutrient deficiencies. If you’re on any medication, I would check out this site – enter in the name of the medication and see what deficiencies you might experience as a result of taking that drug.

Posts may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

45 Comments

Was hoping to see Shaklee in your list of companies that provide organic and pure supplements. They've been in existence for over 1/2 a century. Not sold in retail stores, so that may be a reason, but I do suggest you take a look. Backed by science with many, many research papers and peer reviewed studies. www.shaklee.com

As I mentioned in the post, it's very important to take supplements that have the right balance of nutrients so you don't create a deficiency in the body. While other brands might be using natural ingredients, it's equally important that the supplements also contain the proper amount of nutrients that they work synergistically with.

Sorry just saw you mentioned the D synergy max. It’s not listed on the ingredients for that, is it just naturally occurring? My FIL takes for blood sugar and brain support after a severe strep infection in his ear drained into his brain. Thanks so much.

I accidentally linked to the wrong page for the Synergy Max. So sorry about that! I'm glad you brought it to my attention! I can't find that product online anywhere, so you would need to purchase it through our office. If you're looking for a good supplement to help with blood sugar support, Diaplex or Cataplex GTF from Standard Process are both good products to consider. Here's the link so you can read about them: https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/Standard-Process/Diaplex#.WimK9baZN-U and https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/Standard-Process/Cataplex-GTF#.WimLLbaZN-U

I am wondering Carrie, since you are one of the top enroller's with doTERRA, why are you not recommending Life Long Vitalily, TerraZyme, PB Assist, Phytoestrogen, DDR Prime, Zendocrine, Zendocrine complex and the Bone Nutrient Essential Complex? I would think these would be what you and your family are taking.

A nutrient-dense diet, sunshine, and regular movement are the best foundation for a healthy body. Legally, I can't give personalized supplement advice unless you're a client, so I recommend talking to your practitioner about what is best for your situation.

Wow, the link to check for vitamin deficiencies caused by medications is a wealth of information. My husband uses a few meds and I'm forever trying to get him off them. At least now I have some more ammunition for the battle. :o) Is there a blood test you recommend to determine vitamin deficiencies?

Hello! I need to fill my own pills now with my turmeric/golden paste due to Invisaligns in my mouth but not sure of best place to buy these that is clean, safe. Can you recommend a site/brand? Thank you!

Hi Carrie, My family and I used to take the Green Pastures cod liver oil and butter blend religiously and stopped once all the controversy happened over possible rancidity and authenticity of the product. We started using the Rosita brand and to tell you the truth I miss the Green Pastures brand. Do you mind sharing your thoughts on continuing to take it?? It would help to get your opinion. I feel so torn about it. Thank you.

Yes, our family has continued to take it and we also have continued to use it in our practice for our clients. This podcast will clear up any confusion for you! https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast/116-cod-liver-oil-controversy/

Hi Carrie, I have the same questions as a previous post about the Standard Process supplements containing wheat germ as an ingredient. As someone avoiding gluten and wheat containing products, should we be taking supplements with wheat germ in them? Thanks!!

If you have a documented allergy to wheat germ, or show signs of poor reactions to it, then you can stick with the SP supplements that are gluten-free. If you are avoiding gluten for health reasons, but use some SP supplements that contain a bit of wheat we haven't found in our practice that this causes a negative effect and in fact many clients thrive on these supplements. Of course, it's always best to talk with your practitioner to see what they recommend!

Hi Carrie, Is Thorne Betaine HCI with pepsin suppose to be taken instead of digestive enzymes or along with enzymes. It seems they both do the same? Also, I was told by a nutritional practitioner that iodine should came from kelp such as Sea iodine.

Enzymes and HCL are two different things, so they can be taken together. Yes, sea vegetables and wild seafood do offer a nice amount of iodine, but if someone isn't producing enough T4, then a therapeutic dosage of iodine is usually needed.

I prefer to stick with real, organic foods instead of powdered forms of vegetables and fruits. Juice Plus isn't certified organic, so with each scoop, one most likely gets a dose of pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals in the mix. Synthetic chemicals can cause damage in the body, and cause an imbalance in the endocrine system so I find it best to stick with real foods.

Hi Carrie, I earlier asked what you thought of the JP products, I meant to also ask...as I am on Juice Plus should I be on other supplements as well, I know it would be different for everyone...so just a general idea would be great! ?

Not sure if these would be considered supplements but my daughter has started taking Plexus ProBio5, Bio Clease and Slim Hunger Control. My question is, is this stuff good, natural like they say or is there something else that can be taken that is better. She wants good gut health and would like to lose weight, but I know that some products aren't as good as others. I trust your knowledge and would really appreciate your input. Thanks!

As a Nutritional Therapist, I don't recommend Plexus supplements because they contain many synthetics. If it's weight loss, the best place to start is stress and adrenals. https://deliciouslyorganic.net/20-steps-heal-adrenal-fatigue/ Weight loss depends so much on hormonal balance. As far as gut health goes, eating a nutrient-dense diet (and reducing stress) is one of the best things you can do!

I so appreciate your generosity, not only in the content you offer on your blogs, but in your responses. It is so obvious that your intention is to be of service and you clearly follow through on that intention. A question I have regarding your list: Are you familiar with Perfect Supplements and their dessicated liver capsules and hydrolized collagen? They are a bit cheaper than Vita Proteins and advertise that their products are pasture raised, grass fed. They also have a product that includes freeze dried Acai, Cordyceps amd Rhodiola called Revive for revitalization. Do you have an opinion about these products or their company? Thank you for all you do even if you can't answer my question.

Hi Carrie, I started taking the Basic B Complex from Thorne and have noticed every time I take it I become extremely irritable. I googled this and found the B vitamins can have this crazy effect on people. Have you ever heard of this and do you have any suggestions? I have heard ashwagandha can help. Thanks!

Hi Carrie, I’m truly grateful for the depth of your research and how much you share with us. This list of supplement sources is printed and ready to gradually implement. Luckily, the VA where I get my care checks vitamin levels! (The other VA’s for the previous 20 yrs didn’t have a clinic like this one.) I can now take only what I need! I realize you can’t check Every Brand, and wonder if you have tests of Isagenix supplements. They advertise as all-health/detox/nutrient dense. What are your thoughts about that company? with Warmth &Appreciation, Catherine

Thank you ! So many good infos here. I checked my supplements after reading this post and it looks like many of them has to go to the bin. Vit B6 of course Pyroxine, Naturelo B Comples - pyroxine. Will replace it with thorne brand. Recently my lower part of legs were sore daily. I follow adrenal reset diet; organic meat and plenty of vegetables, healthy carbs but pain won't go away. In Scotland NHS service is quite poor so probably if I ask the doctor for help, they will diagnose me with fibromyalgia lol - thats their answer for all ''mysterious'' health issues. Thanks to the Lord I came across your website - it's very helpful . Blessings, Magdalena

We don't have a nutritional therapist in our area that is not affiliated with a regular MD in some way and so don't feel confident in seeking their advice about natural ways or supplements. You cautioned against ordering from Amazon but I am not sure where we should turn to purchase otherwise. Are there ways to know for sure supplements from Amazon are legitimate?

You can order supplements from our office and we can ship them to you. Biodynamic Wellness 858.259.6000 I only recommend buying a supplement from Amazon if you know it's coming directly from the company. The only 2 supplements that I linked to in this article that I know come directly from the source are Pure Radiance Vitamin C and Cod liver oil. For the others, you are welcome to contact our office.